Page 48 of Game Misconduct

We could take things slow. Continue to get to know each other and gradually let things naturally evolve. One day, the progression would lead to us being more than friends.

“Come on, I know you’re thinking about her, but you’ve got to focus for the next few hours. Your crush will be there after practice.” Mitch chuckled, and I shook my head and followed him over to the elevators where Schultz and Murray were already waiting.

“Hey,” Mitch greeted as we joined them.

“Oh, hey. Can you guys help settle a debate?” Schultz asked.

Murray groaned. “Don’t involve more people.”

His brother-in-law ignored him and turned to us. “As each other’s only family, Chloe and I have to look out for one another.”

Murray shook his head. “I’ve never argued that.”

“In the case of an emergency, I should be able to help her, right?” Schultz asked us.

I shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.”

Mitch narrowed his eyes. “What specifically do you mean?”

“See, even he knows you’re up to something,” Murray grumbled and held the elevator door open for us all to get in.

“Reesey-boy won’t let me have the key or garage code to their house. Even though I’m family and live less than three minutes away. If there ever were an emergency, I could get there faster than any first responders. I should be able to get to my sister and nephew if needed.”

I began nodding, but Murray held up a finger. “Oh no. Don’t twist the story for them. Madi has a key and the code. If something ever happens or we need you to get in the house, she can.”

“What if she’s not around, and I still need to get in?” Schultz argued.

“Dude, it’s not going to happen. Stop harassing me and your sister. I swear, if Callan was old enough, you’d be pressuring him too.”

“He’d give it to me. He loves his uncle,” Schultz pouted. “Why can’t I have a key?”

“Because you will use it for evil!” Murray shouted and pushed his way past us to the locker room.

“I would never!” Schultz called after him.

Murray spun around. “You already have! You broke in and disconnected our water heater. We had to take cold showers for three days until a plumber could come. Your nephew suffered.”

Schultz shrugged. “He and Chloe came over to our house. It was really only you that suffered.”

Mitch and I shared a look. I wanted to laugh, but I was too scared of Murray to let it out.

“Then, you snuck in and put buckets of water above every door so we got drenched, and you ruined the hardwood in my office and the hallway.”

“That was an unfortunate consequence. One I paid for!” Schultz threw up his hands. “That was months ago. I’ve matured!”

“No, you haven’t. I will never give you free access to my house.” Murray walked away without waiting for a response.

“He’s such a killjoy. I swear he doesn’t have a funny bone in his body.” Schultz sighed and followed after him.

“Are they always like that?” I asked.

This was the first time I’d been on a team with people who were related, even by marriage.

“Pretty much, yeah. They’re driving each other crazy every chance they get. Mostly Schultz pushing Murray’s limits. I’m pretty sure the reason the team hasn’t separated them is because they work so well together on the ice. I think their closeness makes it easier for them to predict one another’s movements, and I swear they can read each other’s minds.”

From what I’d seen, even before I moved here, that was true. They had a dynamic that couldn’t be manufactured. It was completely natural, which likely meant they’d stay together for their careers, even if it drove Murray crazy.

At least it was entertaining for the rest of us, and it distracted Mitch from pressing me about Viv.